B6 - Enzymes in action Flashcards
How are enzymes biological catalysts?
They speed up reactions in the body.
Give some everyday examples of enzymes.
- making cheese
- juice is removed from fruit using enzymes
- test for the presence of glucose
- removing stains on clothing
Complete the sentence:
Biological w______ powders work best at l__ temperatures and n______ pH.
Biological washing powders work best at low temperatures and neutral pH.
How are enzymes used to test urine for glucose?
Enzymes on a special reagent strip sticks are used to test urine for the presence of glucose.
What is the enzyme called that remove starch stains?
Amylases.
If blood contains proteins, which enzyme is used to digest it?
Proteases.
What enzyme breaks down sucrose?
Sucrase breaks down sucrose.
Why are enzymes sensitive to pH?
They denature and stop working as well.
What does sucrose break down into?
Sucrose = glucose + fructose.
Why are glucose and fructose good for diets?
They are sweeter than sucrose so less is needed meaning less calories.
How do you immobilize enzymes?
By trapping them in gel beads.
What is alginate?
Alginate is a chemical used to immobilize enzymes.
Describe how enzymes are immobilized.
Enzymes are immobilized by mixing them with alginate and then placing it into calcium chloride solution.
What are the advantages to immobilizing enzymes?
- easier to separate enzyme from products
- enzymes can be reused
- products need less purification as they don’t contain enzymes
- the reaction is continuous
What are the disadvantages to immobilizing enzymes?
- enzyme can become detached from its solid support
- cost of developing immobilized enzyme can be very high
- shape of enzyme may be changed when it is immobilized so may not work as well
